Safety for a revolver

Abstract

The invention is concerned with a safety for a revolver in which the release button or thumb piece is provided with three positions, one of which is the normally open and non-firing position, a second of which is an intermediate, but normally closed, non-firing position, and a third of which is the normally closed and firing position. A spring mechanism is provided to hold the release button in its intermediate position while permitting movement to the first or normally open, or non-firing position, but preventing movement to the third or normally closed position or firing position. The button is connected with the conventional pawl blocking mechanism which prevents the firing of the ammunition when the button is in the intermediate or normally open position. In the intermediate position, while the mounting cylinder is closed, the pawl blocking mechanism prevents the pawl from actuating the ammunition in response to movement of the triggering mechanism, so as to provide for a safety while permitting the gun to be in a ready to fire position. The mechanism also includes a button engaging element which is held in place by means of a spring device, and a lever is attached to the bar to overcome the spring force so as to permit the button to be moved to the normally firing position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A safety for a revolver of the type including a mounting cylinder adapted to contain ammunition, a handle connected with the mounting cylinder and including a mounting cylinder release button, a triggering mechanism including a pawl in the handle for rotating the mounting cylinder, a pawl blocking element carried by said handle and connected with the release button, said button being movable from a normally open position whereby to permit opening of the mounting cylinder, to an intermediate safety non-firing condition, and to a normally closed position to permit firing of ammunition in the mounting cylinder, the pawl blocking element being movable with said button such that in the normally open position thereof, said pawl blocking element prevents the pawl from rotating said mounting cylinder in response to activation of said triggering mechanism and permits the ammunition to be fired in the normally closed position of the button, said safety comprising: a notch element provided on said button, said button having three positions of rest, one being said normally open position, the second being said safety condition and the third being said normally closed position; and   means adapted to engage said button for maintenance thereof in said safety position and movable out of engagement therewith to permit movement of said button to said other positions said means including a bar element support for movement on said handle, and a lever coupled to said bar element for movement of said bar element out of engagement with said notch element for movement of said button to said normally closed position.   
     
     
       2. A safety as claimed in claim 1, wherein said button includes a sliding portion adapted to engage and slide along the top of said bar element. 
     
     
       3. A safety as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pawl blocking element is connected with said button and moves internally of the handle to prevent the pawl from rotating said mounting cylinder in said safety condition of said button. 
     
     
       4. A safety as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means includes a compartment carried by said handle, and having a base portion provided with an opening therethrough, a bar element movable within said compartment and having one end extending through said opening and another end adapted for engagement with said notch element, a compression spring carried by said bar element having one end in engagement with said base, and a spring bearing plate in said compartment carried by said bar element proximate to said other end thereof for engagement with said other end of said spring for urging said bar element into engagement with said notch element. 
     
     
       5. A safety as claimed in claim 4, including a lever coupled to said one end of said bar element externally of said compartment. 
     
     
       6. A safety as claimed in claim 5, said button including a sliding portion, said other end of said bar element including a sliding surface adapted to engage said sliding portion and being held thereagainst under the action of said compression spring but permitting said button to be moved to said first normally open position. 
     
     
       7. An improved safety for a revolver of the type including a handle, a release button carried on the handle of the revolver and connected with a pawl blocking mechanism for preventing the firing of the revolver, said release button being movable from a first position, in which it permits a mounting cylinder to be opened, to an intermediate second position to permit the revolver to be in a condition ready to be fired but to prevent the firing thereof, to a third position to permit the firing thereof, the improvement comprising: said button including a notch element, and a bar element supported for movement on the handle of the revolver for engagement with said notch element to prevent movement of said button from said second position to said third position, but to permit movement to said first position to permit the mounting cylinder to be opened.   
     
     
       8. A safety as claimed in claim 7, including a compartment carried by said handle and having a base portion provided with an opening therethrough, said bar element being movable within said compartment and having one end extending through said opening and another end adapted for engagement with said notch element, a compression spring carried by said bar element having one end in engagement with said base, a spring bearing plate in said compartment and fixedly attached to said bar element proximate to said other end thereof for engagement with said other end of said spring for urging said bar element into engagement with said notch element, and a lever coupled to said one end of said bar element which extends externally of said compartment for movement of said bar element to overcome the force of said compression spring whereby to move said bar element out of engagement with said release button thereby to permit movement of said release button to said third position, and said button including a sliding portion, and said other end of said bar element including a sliding surface adapted to engage said sliding portion and being held thereagainst under the action of said compression spring but permitting said button to be moved from said second intermediate position in which said pawl blocking mechanism is positioned for the prevention of the firing of the revolver to said first position to permit the mounting cylinder to be opened. 
     
     
       9. A safety as claimed in claim 7, including a compression spring carried by said bar element adapted to urge said bar element into engagement with said notch element, and a lever coupled to said bar element for moving said bar element out of engagement with said notch element.